Scar tissue after knee replacement
I had knee replacement surgery 6 weeks ago . Through PT I have been working on breaking up the scar tissue only for it to regrow by the time I get back to PT two days later. I have been massaging at home, using a hand held massager and roller. It is painful and swollen. I am getting very disheartened. Any suggestions as to what else I can do. Has anyone had laser treatments to break up scar tissue? Were they effective?
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I just joined this group. 9 weeks ago I underwent a total knee replacement with my right knee. My extension was pretty much lost before surgery and it has been a very painful 2 month journey of PT appointments. These are hell on earth. I scream and writhe in pain. It is awful. Now I have plenty of scar tissue to deal with as well as the end of an infection due to dissolvable stitches not dissolving. I am on a 3rd course of antibiotics. Some days the pain level is okay. After PT I am a mess. Cancelling events appointments etc. this has had a huge impact on my life and just getting back to normal. I guess my question is. Should I seek out an acupuncturist or homeopathic manipulator. My other knee was replaced 9 years ago and I experienced none of these problems. Am open to any ideas. Thanks.
Hi my knee Is still covered with scar tissue I’m going to try acupuncture twice a week for the next six weeks I’ll let you know the results after that it’s or arthro scopic surgery
Many thanks. I am anxious to hear how it goes.
Saw my surgeon today for a follow up, I'm now 11 weeks out from my partial knee replacement, I was doing really good until Friday. I left PT that day feeling so good about things, I measured 2-120, almost to where I needed to be. Went to work (I work at a hospital), and was telling my co-workers how well everything was goint, then was walking down the hall and felt like my knee gave out with intense pain. I limped to my desk and called my physical therapist. He said he thought the pain might be some scar tissue breaking up since we were finally getting into new territory with my range of motion. Over the weekend, the pain would come and go getting progressively worse each time. Monday at physical therapy he still thought it was from scar tissue, but could definitely fell that i was in more pain. He didn't measure me on Monday because he knew I wouldn't be happy with the numbers since I went backwards some. He worked more on some tissue massage than he has since the surgery, in addition to the other things we have been doing.
After a couple of nights with hardly any sleep, I called my surgeon's office and talked with a triage nurse who recommended I move my 1w wk appt up to today to make sure nothing else was going on. X-ray and everything look good. My surgeon said it is common to slide backwards periodically. While he wasn't as hard on me as his PA was 5 wks ago, he did say I needed to continue to be very aggressive in physical therapy. In his office today i measured 5-120.
My surgeon restarted me on neurotin hoping that it will help the pain at night so I can sleep. I see him again in a month. He said in no uncertain terms that i have to get my extension back to 0 since that is what it was when I left the operating room.
I'm getting tired if dealing with all the pain, but am very thankful for supportive co-workers who understand that some days I just can't do it and need to leave early.
If I need another TKR, I will cut it off! Any Dr. That tells you to tough it out, find another doctor! Why Dr.'s Think pain is good, haven't had a TKR. Pain can be controlled with combination of pain meds, but Dr. won't prescribed them.
Hey You are doing great compared to many others sounds like you just need to hang in there and you’re in going in the right direction I’m envious
I am 9 weeks out from a TKR an my scar tissue has been a real problem. I have read that heat really helps. Hopefully you are doing that as well as icing. But I have to add I bought a tiny bottle of Serica, moisturizing scar formula. Got it at the local CVS drugstore. A bi pricey but worth it. I massage in the direction of the scar and then opposite, across the scar, massaging the scar tissue underneath. That seems to help as well. I got ahold of some KT tape (at drug store) and my husband watched U-Tube videos on how to apply the tape to your knee. It feels so good and gives you support but only for a day or two. Its so easy to get demoralized but chin up. As has been said here before, just when you think you are turning a corner, its easy to slip 10 steps back. Day by Day is my motto.
Oh thanks for that. I really try. It seems like my life is centered around rehabbing this crazy knee. And it's 9 weeks out. Who knew? The gym helps. Leg press and leg extension machines. Also hanging a 5 pound ankle weight and lying face down on a bed with knee hanging off. Really works. Do this 8 minutes. Not easy but do this bit by bit.
You sound just like me. You keep thinking that it will all get better as the days pass by. But no. It really puts you back to square one and it is disheartening. My knee pain at night is off the charts. Still have ICY HOT patches on from applying them at 4:00 am. I would really welcome a good night's sleep. Got sleep to heal, right? Well, how does that work I ask? Go easy on yourself. Its great you can leave early some days. Also try and put your leg up during the day.....Scar tissue is the worst!
Hang in there. All docs need to tell us it is NORMAL to slide backwards from time to time for no apparent reason.